WAITARA HARBOR BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 97, 14 October 1911, Page 2

WAITARA HARBOR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of fche Waitara Harbor Board was held at the Board's OHice, Waitara, yesterday afternoon, when there were present; Messrs. W. F. Jenkins (chairman), Rattenbury, J. Hine, jun., Smith, Hicks and Birdling. .Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., was granted leave of absence from the Board's meeting during the present session of Parliament. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. The chairman referred to the arrangements he had made with Mr. C. E. Reynolds re reporting on the Waitara Harbor, and stated that Mr. Reynolds would probably arrive next week. The chairman's action was confirmed. In reply to Mr. Hine it was stated that the amount available for expenditure on harbor improvements would be about £2BOO. A RAILWAY SIDING.

Messrs. Hatrick & Co. wrote, inti- f mating that the Railway Department ' had forwarded them an account of £B4 I for extending the railway siding along their wharf. When they'purchased the lease of the site the Board undertook to extend the wharf 100 feet, so as to give, them frontage, and they thought that it was clearly the intention of the Board that the wharf and railway were to be extended, but not at lessees' cost. The vliairman said that the Board had not given a guarantee that a railway siding would be erected. They had promised a wharf, which had been built, He did not think, however, that it wasv fair for the Railway Department to charge the first cost of laying the line, £S4, when they were charging Hatrick an annual rental of £35. He considered £25 per rear good interest on an outlay of £B4.

Mr. Hicks pointed out that the Kailway Department would derive all the benefit

The chairman said that Mr. Stubhs, lessee of the other siding, was paying £25 per annum rent, and was willing to transfer to the Board, so that they could have control. He could not say who had paid the cost of laying down this siding.

Mr. Hine said that the Freezing Company had paid the first cost of their siding—a good sum, too. The question was. who was liable for the siding—thp Board or Hatrick 1

■The secretary said he had hunted up the correspondence between the Board and Messrs. Hatrick & Co., and could find no mention of the railway siding. Mr. Rattenbury thought 'the Board should interview the Railway Department as to the cost.

Mr. Hliie suggested that before interviewing the Railway Department they should make sure the matter concerned them; otherwise it might he equivalent to admitting liability. Tt was resolved to defer consideration until next meeting, and in the meantime the Board will make enquiries into the matter. THE DREDGE. Captain Thomson (harbormaster) submitted a report of the working of the dredge, which had been operating near the wharf. He also submitted n plan showing the depth of water, which was very good throughout. The bottom was somewhat uneven at present, but the first fresh would level that. He had calculated the cost of removing the spoil, and it worked out at 9%d per yard (net), lie considered the spoil should be removed at about Gd. but the present grub was in very bad order, and it was only by careful handling that such good results had been obtained. He had recently sounded the channel, and in one place there was a shallow, where there was a snag which required removing. It was a question, however, whether it would nut be better to leave its removal until after the arrival of the new grab, in about two months time. He pointed out that the snag was not a menace to shipping, as no boat ever worked the bar except at high water, when there is ample water over the snag. Mr. Hicks thought the silting might I continue unless the snag was removed at ouee. -.- - - i

Tlh> harbormaster sai'd that after it was dredged it would certainly give the stream a better run out. -Mr. lline said the results of tile dredging were very "ratifying. It had taken three, resolutions and his resignation from the works committee to get the work started, partly owing to the autocratic action, of the chairman in stopping the work. The result had shown that he was perfectly justified in the stand ho had taken. The chairman remarked that the dredge Was doing better work now than before. 'I he ciiange had done good. Mr. lline said at that time the dredge had liceu condemned as almost fit for wrapping. The chairman said it had been altered. and was. moreover, in charge of a good num. \Fr. Kicks said that previously (he spoil hail cost anything from Gd to ]os per yard to remove. Members considered that as the snag was no menace to shipping it would lie advisable to wait for the new grab, and the harbormaster was given authority to hy the dredge up in the meantime. ItOVALTY FOR METAL. ■Mr. lline brought up the question of charging royalty on metal taken from the beach under the jurisdiction of the Hoard. Me considered this was an asset of the Board's, and any they did not need themselves they should" part with at a price which 'he considered should le Gd per yard. I